Graham Norton Hub

Openly gay BBC presenter Graham Norton is reportedly “furious” about Irish broadcaster RTE’s decision to pay a $116,000 settlement to anti-gay Catholic lobbying group, calling the decision “absolutely moronic.” The settlement came after Catholic lobby group Iona Institute and two prominent Irish journalists threatened legal action after being described as homophobic and “horrible and mean about gays” during a program on the flagship Irish public broadcaster channel last month. BBC reports:

In his Hot Press cover interview Norton said he was disappointed that the journalists had decided to take legal action instead of examining why they might be accused of homophobia.

Although he said he has no desire to get married himself, Norton added: "I want to ask these people, 'Why are you so scared and intimidated by the idea of gay marriage?'" [...]

He added: "This tiny minority can yell all they want, but it's over. It's all done. The Iona Institute, and people like that, are like rats trapped in the corner of a barn. They know the jig is up. That's why they're screaming so loud."

However, he added that he was glad gay marriage opponents existed as "they drag everyone towards the centre".

"You hear their opinions and suddenly you're a little bit more tolerant - because you don't want to be them!"

Marvel Comics writer responds to a DC Comics executive who claims the lack of gay weddings in books DC publishes is due to the fact that superheroes are not supposed to be happy: "It's just lazy storytelling."

Documentary film director Roger Ross Williams on the rise of anti-gay animosity in Uganda: "Everyone I've talked to in my film has said, 'You know, look America's lost.' As marriage equality has passed, America is lost to them, but they are winning the war in Uganda. And they believe that this war will be won by eradicating what they believe is sexual sin, and that means homosexuality. And that message gets translated very differently in an African context."

Boston mayoral candidate announces proposal to protect LGBT youth: "Martin J. Walsh released Friday what he called a comprehensive platform to protect gays and lesbians, including designated “safe spaces” for gay youths in schools."

Conservative political action committee. whose goal was essentially to notify voters San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio is gay, has been fined $7,500 violating campaign disclosure laws: "The group, called Conservatives for Gay Rights Supporting Carl DeMaio for Mayor 2012, did not provide the names of its principals or a valid street address, according to the city Ethics Commission, which announced the fine Friday. It also did not keep records explaining its expenditures, the commission said."

Daniel Radcliffe portrays Allen Ginsburg in the upcoming gay-themed film Kill Your Darlings. Last night, the actor appeared on The Graham Norton Show and talked about the on set direction he received from director John Krokida while shooting a gay love scene.

"And the favorite note I have ever had was when we were kissing and the director shouted, ‘No, not like that. Crazy sex f***ing kissing!'"

Sounds we should expect quite the passionate scene in the movie. Watch the interview, AFTER THE JUMP. The bit about Kill Your Darlings comes in during the first minute or so of the clip.

Last week on The Graham Norton Show, actress Minnie Driver helped Norton out with a bit by reading the names of racehorses that were rejected by the British Horse Racing Authority for being, a bit too suggestive.

Many of you know the wildlife videos narrated by Sir David Attenborough (if you don't, this one's a must-not-miss).

Well, Scissor Sisters made an appearance on The Graham Norton Show to promote their new album Magic Hour (which drops today, incidentally), and Ana Matronic did not let the hour go by without demonstrating her New Guinea Bird of Paradise mating dance.